Facile preparation of sodium alginate based hybrid material and its enhanced flame retardancy: Unravelling the role of silver phosphate

In this study, the sodium alginate/silver phosphate (NaAlg/Ag3PO4) hybrid materials were prepared in -situ, and the composites were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrum. To investigate flame-retardant properties of NaAlg/ Ag3PO4 and the phosphorus-polymetallic flame-retardant effects, the combustion behavior and flammability of the composites were assessed via the thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and microcalorimeter tests (MCC). The results show that the LOI of NaAlg/Ag3PO4 was 52.3%, which was upgraded from flammable material to flame retardant material, compared to 18.5% of NaAlg, and the heat release capacity (HRC) of NaAlg/Ag3PO4 was 37 J/(g & sdot;K), which was reduced by 66.7% compared with that of pristine NaAlg, and the fire safety performance was also consistent with the order of thermal stability. By using the thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared analysis (TG-FTIR) and pyrolysis -gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), the flame retarding mechanism of the NaAlg/Ag3PO4 and the role of Ag3PO4 in the material were proposed based on the experimental data.